Anger at minister’s call to divert carnival from Grenfell
THE Government has stoked anger among Grenfell Tower residents and neighbours by calling for the Notting Hill Carnival to be moved.
Greg Hands, the Minister for London, made public a letter yesterday in which he said it would be “inappropriate” for the carnival to take place in the shadow of the burnt-out tower block.
Mr Hands wrote to Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, suggesting that the location of the event be changed and that the mayor’s office take over the running of the carnival “in conjunction” with the organisers.
The suggestion angered residents already suspicious of the Government and its handling of the crisis in the aftermath of the fire in which at least 80 people died.
Yvette Williams, a coordinator for the Justice4grenfell campaign group, said: “The carnival route does not go near Grenfell and I’m failing to find the link between the Grenfell Tower fire and the carnival.”
Jamal Williams, who lives close to the tower, said: “Notting Hill Carnival is embedded into our community. The thought of having that taken away by a minister who is so culturally out of touch is unimaginable.”
The request to take control of the carnival, which takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend and typically attracts two million visitors, was rejected by Mr Khan. He said: “Notting Hill Carnival is a firm London tradition and incredibly important to the local community. It should not be moved.”
In his letter to Mr Khan, Mr Hands, the Conservative MP for neighbouring Chelsea and Fulham, wrote: “Clearly it [the carnival] must go ahead. However, we have to ask ourselves if it is appropriate to stage a carnival in the near proximity of a major national disaster.
“I would like you to consider moving the location, and/or the Greater London Authority, with its experience of running major events, taking over the carnival, in conjunction with the current organisers.”
Stormzy, a London rapper credited with helping Jeremy Corbyn attract young voters at last month’s election, claimed the Government was “using the Grenfell tragedy for their ‘get rid of carnival’ agenda”.
Anger in the community was felt at a meeting on Thursday night involving local residents and Sir Martin Moorebick, the retired court of appeal judge who is chairing the public inquiry into the Grenfell tragedy. He was heckled by residents, some of whom have called for him to resign as inquiry chairman. ♦ Leigh Day, the law firm cleared of wrongdoing over lawyers’ pursuit of torture and murder claims against British troops in the Iraq War, suspended two paralegals this week after a poster was put up offering legal support to those affected by the Grenfell fire. The firm said it had no knowledge of the poster and has launched an inquiry.